Whether military veterans will receive special scoring preference on their competitive employment exams will lie in the hands of Hermosa Beach voters this November in the form of Measure “V.”

The ballot measure proposes the adoption of an ordinance that would give veterans a 3-percentage point credit on civil service examinations.

According to City Attorney Mike Jenkins’ impartial analysis of the measure, the City Council adopted the ordinance that governs city employment as a ballot measure so that voters will maintain final judgment on whether they would wish to provide veterans with special preference.

“This ordinance would amend the civil service ordinance to extend a credit to the examination score of applicants who are military veterans,” states Jenkins. “A veteran means any person who has been discharged or released from military service under conditions other than dishonorable and has served full time for 30 days or more in the armed forces in time of war; or for 30 days or more or in time of peace in a campaign or expedition for service in which a medal has been authorized by the government of the United States; or during the period Sept. 16, 1940, to Jan. 31, 1955; or for at least 181 consecutive days since Jan. 31, 1955.

“A veteran does not include any person who served only in auxiliary or reserve components of the armed forces whose service therein did not exempt him or her from the operation of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940.”

A “yes” vote would mean someone is in favor of establishing credit for veterans who compete for city positions while a “no” vote would be opposing such a credit.

Those in favor of the measure include City Council members J.R. Reviczky, Kathy Dunbabin and Sam Edgerton; Mayor Michael Keegan; and Steven Crecy of the Hermosa Beach Veterans’ Memorial Committee.

“The popular expression goes, ‘If you love freedom, thank a vet.’ This measure provides a collective way for Hermosa Beach citizens to do just that,” said measure ballot author Reviczky. “We like to call this concept veterans’ credit because it recognizes the experience, sacrifice and discipline that is exhibited by veterans who possess an honorable discharge from the all-volunteer Armed Forces of the United States. Members of the military forgo civilian opportunities for employment and education in order to serve our country. During their military service, they undergo rigorous training and assume great responsibility. We contend, and experience proves the point, that veterans make great employees.”

A formal committee opposed to the measure has yet to file any sort of argument with the city clerk’s office; however, City Councilman Art Yoon has expressed his disapproval of the amendment to the city’s laws.

“I don’t believe in preferences and although veterans contribute so much I think in a way, these preferences devalue their contributions,” he said. “I’m sensitive to the fact that veterans fought for our country. My parents survived invasion by North Korean forces during the Korean War. Without the heroism of the U.S. military, I might not be alive today. I think we owe them more than a debt of gratitude and what the city can provide. We should make sure they are receiving the care they need and their full allowance of benefits after serving their tours.”

Compelled by numerous requests from dozens of members of the South Bay chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Hermosa Beach City Council agreed to reconsider the proposed program after its Dec. 11 vote to reject the plan. Reviczky was the only one who voted in favor of it.

“There are thousands of veterans providing excellent service in our state as public safety personnel, administrators, professionals and technicians,” he added. “They are accustomed to working as a team in a structured environment, they respect authority and in the modern military have been trained to work with state-of-the-art equipment.”

According to civil service rules, veterans, like anyone else applying for a city job, must possess the appropriate skills specific to a position through competency testing before they are awarded any points.

Cities that have already adopted special preference for veterans include El Segundo, Gardena, Inglewood, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Torrance.

The veterans preference program was sponsored by the state of California. Part of the legislation required all city agencies to either adopt the program or adopt a resolution explaining the reasons as to why it won’t implement such a policy by January 2002.

The program is based on civil service employment exams, which are administered to virtually every entry-level city employee, firefighter and police officer.

The council’s decision to revisit the issue came after fellow Yoon supported Reviczky’s motion. Although Yoon doesn’t support Measure “V,” he will not actively take a stance against it.

“In my opinion, we are not showing respect to our veterans by codifying preferential treatment on the municipal level. Rather, assuming a need for these 3 percentage points codifies a preconceived disrespect toward veterans,” said Yoon. “Asking about military service in an employment application is fair. We should cherish military service as their professionalism, training and discipline are unique. These are qualities that are important when hiring qualified personnel to serve our city. Three points, however, are not an adequate measure of these qualities. Our laws should reflect the highest ideals of fairness and opportunity. Preferences by definition actively implement an unfair standard. Even in this benign form, unfairness is something I cannot support.”